GMRS repeater access for non-members

[Coffeemug]

I realize that are GMRS repeaters that do require a club or organization membership in order to use the repeater or system. However, I wish some of them organizations, such as LEARN would have a NET once a month to invite non-members to join. LEARN doesn't really have website for information or a signup form.

 

[jeepsandradios]

why do any need a net. Thats a ham thing. GMRS doesn't need nets, linking or any of that.

 

[chief21]

I realize that are GMRS repeaters that do require a club or organization membership in order to use the repeater or system. However, I wish some of them organizations, such as LEARN would have a NET once a month to invite non-members to join. LEARN doesn't really have website for information or a signup form.

If a given GMRS repeater is listed on MyGMRS.com, there is usually a means of requesting access.

 

[prcguy]

Why not get on their repeater briefly and ask how to become a paying member. If they don’t like that then you probably don’t want to be a member.

 

[Coffeemug]

why do any need a net. Thats a ham thing. GMRS doesn't need nets, linking or any of that.

Granted the Amateur Radio may use the term NET more so than other radio services. Why can't there be NET on GMRS? 30 or 40 years during the CB craze I'm sure there were CB Radio Club or individual that have round table or NET on a particular channel, especially during events.

 

[jeepsandradios]

What reason is there for GMRS to have a net ? I dont ever remember a NET on CB back when I was with REACT. Heck we had enough chatter on the radio then. Use the radio as it was intended. I dont think I need a NET with my parents and wife. We use it for the purpose and thats it.

 

[03msc]

What reason is there for GMRS to have a net ? I dont ever remember a NET on CB back when I was with REACT. Heck we had enough chatter on the radio then. Use the radio as it was intended. I dont think I need a NET with my parents and wife. We use it for the purpose and thats it.

There is a monthly GMRS net on the linked system in Arkansas. Why? To make sure people know how to use their equipment, know what repeater(s) they can hear, and also to be prepared to pass info in a controlled manner if there is a widespread emergency (to control traffic vs everyone just keying up and talking without any order). Or that's what they say.

Not everyone uses GMRS (or amateur radio or CB or even FRS) the same way as you do or as I do. And that's OK.

There is also a nightly local CB net in this area and it's been going on for a few years now. Has spread widely. It has also led to some people getting their ham licenses.

My point? Not to say there should be but rather to point out that just because it doesn't make sense to you (or I or the next guy) doesn't mean it's wrong or shouldn't be going on. Nothing wrong with it, actually.

 

[MTS2000des]

Contrary to popular belief, no one has any exclusive right, coordination or exclusive use of the available GMRS channels. All licensees may use them, and everyone has to share. One has to yield to another, an all licensees have access to all frequencies. Repeater owners can limit use of their equipment by using tone/digital tone squelch, or turning them off it they wish, but no one can REQUIRE another to refrain from using GMRS channels. This is where the frequency pigs short circuit but the rules say otherwise. No one "owns" or has any FCC recognized coordination of GMRS repeater pairs.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Contrary to popular belief, no one has any exclusive right, coordination or exclusive use of the available GMRS channels. All licensees may use them, and everyone has to share. One has to yield to another, an all licensees have access to all frequencies. Repeater owners can limit use of their equipment by using tone/digital tone squelch, or turning them off it they wish, but no one can REQUIRE another to refrain from using GMRS channels. This is where the frequency pigs short circuit but the rules say otherwise. No one "owns" or has any FCC recognized coordination of GMRS repeater pairs.

GMRS channels are like a national park. You are welcome everywhere except in someone else's tent (repeater). And if what is going on in their tent offends you, you can always move along.

 

[MTS2000des]

GMRS channels are like a national park. You are welcome everywhere except in someone else's tent (repeater). And if what is going on in their tent offends you, you can always move along.

Except the rules as written offer zero protection or preemption for repeaters. Your national park has to yield to my use of the frequency pair as much as I have to yours.

 

[hfd376]

OP, are you referring to the LEARN network around Philadelphia? I understand only public safety folks are granted permission. And from what I gather on mygmrs.com, the person running it is pretty vocal to non members popping up on his repeater. As stated, repeaters don't need any of the things you mentioned. You can put up a repeater and keep it "private", you don't need to open it to public use.

 

[a417]

Granted the Amateur Radio may use the term NET more so than other radio services. Why can't there be NET on GMRS? 30 or 40 years during the CB craze I'm sure there were CB Radio Club or individual that have round table or NET on a particular channel, especially during events.

What is NET an acronym for?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Except the rules as written offer zero protection or preemption for repeaters. Your national park has to yield to my use of the frequency pair as much as I have to yours.

I think my tent example went right over your head.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

What is NET an acronym for?

Nerds exhausting time.

 

[03msc]

What is NET an acronym for?

Nothing. It's short for network.

I think you knew that and were just pointing out that it shouldn't be all caps, but just for anyone else who wonders along and doesn't know.

 

[03msc]

I think my tent example went right over your head.

Yeah. It's like multiple identical houses (same frequency) on a street but each has a different door key (tone). Can definitely be kept out of the house(s) the owners don't want you in. Private property.

 

[a417]

nvm folks, I was asking if the all capitalized NET was an acroynm for something...I'm aware what a net is, and how it's used in this parlance.
@RFI-EMI-GUY was pickin' up what I was laying down.

thanks, tho!

 

[alcahuete]

I have always found the repeater=private property thing interesting. If I key up to use a repeater pair and the PL I'm using just happens to match that of an active repeater, how is that my problem? Same with ham. By saying you can't use a closed repeater for example, they are in essence maintaining exclusive use of the frequency, because they are saying you can't use the same frequency with the same CTCSS/DCS, etc. of the repeater. Why not?

 

[MTS2000des]

Repeaters are private property. Owners can easily turn them off if someone uses them they don't want. However, unlike other radio services (part 90, part 97 even), repeaters don't have allocations exclusive to a licensee, so the licensee has zero authority to order someone off. those frequencies. They can close their door (change PL/DPL) but that's about it. As digital modulation (which such variants as MotoTRBO RAS) could allow an owner to "lock down" their repeater from unapproved use, the fact is the FREQUENCY PAIR is open to ALL licensees to enjoy and share.

In part 90, frequencies are coordinated and licensed to a specific user(s). FCC can easily conduct enforcement action against unauthorized use.
In part 97, repeater coordination exists and if a ham is told to piss off and refrain from using a repeater, FCC can (and has) conducted enforcement actions including modification of offending ham(s) license to exclude authorization on repeater pair.

 

[mmckenna]

how is that my problem? Same with ham. By saying you can't use a closed repeater for example, they are in essence maintaining exclusive use of the frequency, because they are saying you can't use the same frequency with the same CTCSS/DCS, etc. of the repeater. Why not?

You are 100% correct.

But I look at it using the "don't be a **** " filter. Yes, you could absolutely use that frequency. But you have other frequencies you can use. Do so if you can. If not, try to work things out like an adult.

As with many things, it comes down to "intent". What would someone be 'intending' to do?
A repeater owner is trying to provide radio coverage for their use.
A simplex user is trying to communicate.

That's all cool.

But if one user starts using the repeater or radio to cause problems for other users, maybe because they don't like that someone is running a repeater, the 'intent' may be viewed as less than adult behavior.

Or, as the FCC says "mutually satisfactory arrangements":

§ 95.325 Interference.​

Operators of Personal Radio Service stations experiencing or causing interference must first attempt to eliminate the interference by means of mutually satisfactory arrangements. If the operators are unable to resolve an interference problem, the FCC may impose restrictions including specifying the channels, maximum transmitting power, maximum antenna height and geographic area or hours of operation of the stations concerned.

I don't think I've ever heard of the FCC doing that in the recent past for GMRS.


Repeaters and simplex users can coexist. Use a squelch code on your radios, both TX and RX and you'll filter out a lot of stuff that you don't want to hear.


None of this seemed to be an issue 20+ years ago. GMRS wasn't as popular as it is now. It was harder to get suitable GMRS radios. Repeaters weren't some $400 POS Chinese crap box machine that anyone with an Amazon account could toss up.

The popularity of GMRS is becoming its own worst enemy, especially if users don't figure out how to cooperate. Probably won't take a lot of stupidity for the FCC to just throw in the towel like they did with CB.


Groups running large linked repeater systems probably should think carefully about how their systems impact others, and if they irritate the FCC enough, they'll end up with a lot of useless gear.

In other words, GMRS users (as well as ham, MURS, FRS, etc) should learn to play nice. You know, like we were all taught in kindergarten.